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NWT COMES OUT ON TOP IN FIRST GAME AGAINST JUNIOR A TEAM
CALGARY, Alta. – If Canada’s National Women’s Team had something to prove in its first-ever matchup
against a Junior A team, it did exactly that Saturday night inside the Max Bell Centre, edging the Calgary
Canucks 3-2 in a fast-paced game that put Canada’s speed and strength on display.
Shannon Szabados (Edmonton, Alta.) was a star between the pipes, making 52 saves, while Caroline Ouellette
(Montreal, Que.) scored the winning goal midway through the third period to help Canada earn the win.
Although Calgary’s David Pope kicked off the scoring six minutes into the first, Jayna Hefford (Kingston,
Ont.) tied it up before the period was over, scoring a pretty power-play goal on passes from Hayley
Wickenheiser (Shaunavon, Sask.) and Ouellette.
Canada kept up the crisp passing in the second, with Meghan Agosta (Ruthven, Ont.) getting her team’s
second goal of the night just 41 seconds into the period. Hefford doubled her points with an assist, with
Ferrari earning a helper as well.
The Canucks couldn’t catch up to the National Women’s Team in the second, but started off the third strong
with another goal from Pope that tied the game up again at 2-2.
Despite plenty of back-and-forth action between the AJHL team and the Canadians, it was Canada that came
out on top in the end, with Ouellette getting her third point of the night and breaking the tie midway
through the third. Catherine Ward (Montreal, Que.) assisted, as did Agosta, who also got her second point of
the game with an assist.
The National Women Team next faces off against the UFA Bisons in NWT Midget Series action, with the puck
dropping at 7:30 p.m. MT on Monday night at Father David Bauer Olympic Arena.
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